project

UNOBSTRUSIVE CANOPY 2, The Lleida prototype

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General information

  • Location address
    Lleida
  • Location country
    Spain
  • Year of construction
    1987
  • Name of the client/building owner
    The Lleida City Council
  • Function of building
  • Climatic zone
    Mediterranean - mild winters, dry hot summers
  • Primary function of the tensile structure
    • Sun protection

Description

Furniture and equipment are frequently difficult to integrate into the urban or natural landscape. For monumental sites, historic places, landmarks and interesting environments, the "Lleida" prototype was designed in order not to interfere visually. It is a 6m x 4m self-supported canopy formed by two frames united by T shaped cross beams. The beams hold a longitudinal CHS arch that pushes down the roof made of a membrane tied up to the frames by means of elastic rope.
The two surfaces included between the frames and deformed by the arch are anticlastic, resistant to the wind and they drain properly. There are no inclined planes, slopes nor vertical faces that obstruct the vision, because the surfaces are perceived as a smoothly deformed horizontal plane. In this way, the canopy does not consolidate a volume as it used to happen to the pitched roofs of pavilions.
The steel sections are lined with rounded pieces of wood to increase the visual and tactile receptiveness, thereby raising the temperature of the metal and softening the aggressiveness of edges and corners, procuring to the user the same gentleness that is provided to the environment.
The "Lleida" prototype has been used in a variety of different locations and purposes.

Description of the environmental conditions

Material of the cover

  • Cable-net/Fabric/Hybrid/Foil
    Fabric
  • Material Fabric/Foil
    Polyester
  • Material coating
    PVC

Main dimensions and form

  • Total length (m)
    6
  • Total width (m)
    4

Duration of use

Involved companies

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